Sunday, February 21, 2016

NBA Star Ray Allen and Wife to Open First Ever Organic Fast Food Restaurant on East Coast

Two-time NBA champion Ray Allen and his wife TV producer Shannon Allen are moving forward with their idea to open a chain of organic fast food restaurants called "Grown". Their first restaurant to be located at 8211 South Dixie Highway in Miami, Florida will offer a full menu of locally sourced, organic dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.The 1,900-square-foot restaurant will serve organic soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, gluten-free baked goods, fruit smoothies, cold-pressed juices, coffees and teas at affordable prices between $4 to $18. The location will also have both a drive-thru, and indoor/outdoor seating. There will be a rooftop garden, and there will also be a room available for special events such as cooking classes and wellness demos.

But why?

The couple say that they created this type of restaurant out of frustration, when they could never find restaurants that fit both their family's schedules and diets.

Shannon commented, "At home I do my best to prepare delicious, nutrient-dense meals for our five children including our son Walker, who is living with Type 1 diabetes." But she says like most families, they are very busy and don't always have time to cook healthy meals.

"I had an aha-moment where I realized I couldn’t sit around helpless waiting for someone else to create a fast food option that met our family’s dietary needs."

Can organic fast food restaurants really work?

Yes, and it's already working. On the west coast, in Pleasanton, California, there is already an organic fast food restaurant called Organic Coup that is doing really, really well. In fact, the owner, who is a former Costco executive, is planning to open 25 more restaurants over the next 14 months.

"People Want This"

Regarding their new venture, Ray Allen also commented: "People want to be healthier, eat cleaner and feel better about what they’re putting in their bodies. I know this from personal experience, and when Grown opens it will very much be a concept unlike anything else designed to be accessible by everyone, from the weekend warrior to the soccer Mom and anyone in between."